Council votes 6-1 to put fire sales tax on ballot

A divided Cape Girardeau City Council voted Monday to put a quarter-cent fire sales tax on the April 6 ballot.

The vote was 6-1 to seek voter approval of a permanent tax.

Councilman Jay Purcell voted against putting the issue on the ballot, saying he first wanted a commitment from city officials to cut nonessential services to help balance the budget in future years.

"I can't believe we can't find something in our budget to cut out," Purcell said.

But other council members said the city already has made budget cuts, such as freezing salaries, postponing equipment purchases and buying used police cars.

Mayor Jay Knudtson argued the council should include a provision for the proposed tax to expire after 10 years. "With a sunset, you impose accountability," he said.

A sunset clause, he said, would force city staff and the city council to cut expenses over the next decade.

He said voters might reject the ballot issue without a sunset provision, but in the end he voted with the majority to put the tax issue on the ballot without such a clause.

The other council members opposed adding a sunset, saying they didn't want to sunset the tax because it would include money for operational expenses.

Councilwoman Marcia Ritter said that the council would be faced with cutting $1 million out of the operational budget if the tax were to sunset. She said it would be an impossible task.

The tax would raise an estimated $2 million annually. The money would go to fund the fire department, including a new fire station and new roofs on two other fire stations.

It also would free up general fund money for police department expenses.

The council will meet at 6 p.m. Jan. 13 to consider giving final approval to the ordinance that would put the issue on the ballot.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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